Ch.24Memory Erasure Agent

* This document is a *rough* translation of the document “Anti-Memetics Department Guide Manual” from the ■■■Foundation’s Brazil branch into various languages.

* This is currently the only information the Foundation can trust, and to prevent this information from being contaminated (LEMMA-021), the following guidelines must be followed.

– Documents regarding anti-memetics can only exist stably in Portuguese. When translated into other languages, information becomes gradually distorted, affecting even this document.

– It has been experimentally confirmed that *roughly* translating the original document using LEVEL 3 or lower translators can minimize the effects of information distortion.

– All Anti-Memetics Department personnel are selected from those who can speak Portuguese. However, in unavoidable cases, *roughly* translated documents may be used for educational purposes.

– Please destroy translated documents as soon as possible after achieving their intended purpose.

[Table of Contents]

0. Introduction

1. What is a Meme

2. Anomalous Properties of Memes and Response Methods

2.1. Anomalous Properties

2.2. Response Methods

3. Main Tasks of the Anti-Memetics Department

3.1. Chen’s Anomaly

3.2. Document Contamination

3.2.1 LEMMA-021

<0. Introduction>

Hello. If you’re reading this, it means you’ve become a new member of the Anti-Memetics Department. This might not be your first time, but anyway. We sincerely welcome you to your new—or what is considered to be new—home.

The memes (entities with anomalous properties) that the Anti-Memetics Department confronts are among the most dangerous anomalous entities. They have no fixed form, and their range of influence is not bound by time and space. Handling them as safely as possible and isolating them whenever possible will be the most important task you’ll be undertaking from now on.

<1. What is a Meme>

1976. The concept of meme, created by Professor Richard Dawkins, refers to self-replicating information. The root word is gene.

Just as genes evolve across generations, memes also evolve through generations in human collective consciousness. For memes, “forgetting (or loss of records)” corresponds to “death (or extinction)” for living organisms. Over generations, memes have evolved. To spread more widely, become more addictive, and be less forgettable. More precisely, only such memes—information—have survived to exist among us. Below are examples of memes that have survived and those that haven’t.

– Most ancient oral tales have been lost, but stories recorded on paper or parchment have survived. Digital information recorded with modern technology has a lifespan of about 5 to 10 years (HDD), but is very easy to replicate. These will remain in internet space for centuries.

– Information worth preserving for religious, academic, or humanistic reasons has flourished over long periods. The Bible has been replicated, sold, and distributed in over 5 billion copies (estimated).

– Recently, addictive, easy-to-understand, and entertaining information (video clips, catchphrases, etc.) also spreads widely.

– Memes that have acquired anomalous properties during evolution: This is discussed below.

(Omitted)

<Response Methods>

– Personnel who have come into contact with anomalous memes should respond using the following methods:

1. Anti-Meme Application: If an anomalous meme is a disease, an anti-meme is a vaccine or treatment. Applying an anti-meme corresponding to the meme can free one from the anomaly. However, the disadvantage is that there may not be a corresponding anti-meme for every meme.

2. Meme Destruction: Remove the anomaly by destroying the meme. This can be achieved through termination of related personnel or through amnestics.

2.1. Amnestics: Erases recent memories of the subject. The higher the dosage, the older the memories that can be erased. Recently, “targeted amnestics” that track the anomalous properties of memes to erase only desired memories are being researched.

***

Room 704.

Tapping the desk with her fingertips, Heo Yoon summarized what I had said.

“So, there’s a memetic kill agent in his head. So we need to erase his memory. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Then where do we get this amnestic thing?”

“They say we can get it on the 3rd floor.”

“The 3rd floor. You mean, that vending machine?”

“Yes.”

Since downloading that strange file on my smartphone, I’ve been able to find information like this. I don’t seem to know that much, but it’s still trustworthy since it’s information left by the Foundation.

While checking the information again by scrolling through the chat, a new message popped up.

– Hey

– Me: What

– Charge your phone

– It’s about to die

– ?

Come to think of it, I only have 7 percent battery left. It was at 70 percent just a moment ago. Is this because of him too?

– I told you this consumes too much power for a phone

– Me: I’ll charge it for now

– No

– Move it to a laptop again

– Me: How can I do that when it’s not even mine

– Me: I’ll look into it when I have access to a computer

I ignored the message and plugged in the charger.

Seok Hyunmin, who had been resting his chin on his hand the whole time, showed interest in this.

“Are you still talking to him? Through KakaoTalk?”

“Yes.”

“So is it like an AI or something?”

“I think so. Probably.”

He usually listens with one ear and lets it go out the other, but he only shows interest at times like this. Should I say he has a strong sense of inquiry? Or should I say he’s only interested in what he likes? What I’ve been feeling lately is that old sayings are never wrong. Curiosity killed the cat. It means curiosity will get you killed. Just now, Seok Hyunmin almost died because of it.

Biting her nails while thinking, Heo Yoon pushed her chair back and stood up.

“Let’s go right away then.”

“I’ll go too.”

“Where do you think you’re going? Your head is probably full of nonsense.”

Pushing Hyunmin away, she approaches me.

“Dabin. Sorry, but could you come with me?”

“Ah, yes.”

“You’re the only one left who can properly observe anomalies. The old man is now…”

Heo Yoon cut her words short.

“Anyway. Let’s go together. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Wait. Come to think of it, where is the old man?”

“He’s dead.”

“What?”

“When I looked, he was dead in the emergency stairwell with his head cracked open. I cleaned up a bit.”

“……”

Seok Hyunmin scratched his temple with a complicated expression.

“He must have really not wanted to go exploring.”

“I told you not to talk like that.”

“Sorry.”

“And we need to bring one more person. Daju is injured…”

“Can’t just the two of us go?”

“I was originally planning to, but you hurt your hand too. At least two people need to be able to move properly.”

Yoon fell into thought for a moment.

“Is Serim the only one left?”

“That’s right. When Lim Dabin was talking nonsense earlier…”

I hurriedly pushed Seok Hyunmin away, but it was already too late.

“Choi Serim noona heung…mmph!”

“Really? He said that?”

“Th…that…”

“He doesn’t look the type, really?”

“Ugh…”

“I definitely heard it.”

“Oh? Dabin’s face is turning red.”

“No it’s not! It’s not red!”

Anyway, it’s not true.

“Well, that’s good then. Let’s take Serim and go, the three of us!”

“Ah. This isn’t…”

“I can see you’re happy inside.”

Seok Hyunmin, who was grinning mischievously, suddenly lowered his head.

“Ah. Just a nosebleed.”

“This will continue for a while. You’re still under the influence of the memetic kill agent.”

Unable to stay still any longer, Yoon prepares to leave immediately.

“Dabin. Quickly get Serim and let’s go. And you, stay alive until then. Got it?”

“Sure. I won’t die.”

Heo Yoon grabbed my hand and quickly opened the front door.

“CHOI SERIM!!!!! COME OUT QUICKLY!!!!!”

Her voice echoed through the corridor. It was loud enough to make my ears ring. She already has a loud voice, but when she deliberately shouts, her volume is no joke.

Is this… a nurse? Or a rock singer from Hongdae?

“LIM DABIN IS LOOKING FOR YOU!!!!”

“Why are you saying that again!”

Beep-

With the sound of the door lock opening, Choi Serim came out.

“What is it, unnie?”

“Can you go exploring again now? Hyunmin saw a memetic kill agent while exploring, and he needs medicine to recover.”

If Choi Serim is quiet and has a faint presence with few words, Heo Yoon has good vocalization and her speech pattern is clearly articulated.

Listening to their conversation feels like going between a cold bath and a hot bath.

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you tired? You just came back from being outside.”

“Not really.”

Choi Serim, who briefly trailed off, added one more thing.

“You did most of the hard work anyway, unnie.”

“What do you mean I did all the work? We all did it together.”

“I’ll go.”

Choi Serim was already standing in the same line.

“Dabin. What was that about earlier?”

“Huh?”

“About you looking for me.”

“No. It’s just a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding.”

“Ahaha…”

She makes eye contact with me and laughs quietly.

I’ve felt this before. When I see that expression, there’s something, something about it. Does the person herself have a mysterious and charismatic feeling?

Even if I try to gloss over it, I just can’t let it go.

“Actually! I was talking nonsense for a moment! And somehow your name came up and that’s what happened…!”

“I see.”

“……Yes.”

“Can you do it one more time?”

“……”

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Heo Yoon was just staring at the elevator without saying anything, and Choi Serim and I were standing face to face in the corridor.

“……noona…heung…”

“Thank you.”

Slowly reaching out her hand, she strokes my head.

The elevator door opens, and Choi Serim extends her hand to me again.

“Let’s go, Dabin.”